Improvement in folding biers



W. WHITE.

FOLDINGQ-BIERS.

No. 186,650. Patented Jan. 23,1877.

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Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 186,650, dated January 23, 1877; application filed June 22, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WASHINGTON WHITE, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Biers, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof when folded together. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken in the line a: w of Fig. 2.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

The invention relates to biers for funeral purposes; and it consists of hinged sections provided at or near each end with a pivoted crossbar carrying supporting-legs, which are combined with locking-arms, and a central transverse bar provided with supporting-legs, the open ends of the sections being hinged to the central bar in such manner that the legs can be folded within the plane of the frame, and the frame folded upon itself, so as to reduce the bier to a small and compact size when arranged for transportation to the place where it is to be used, and when it is to be used the frame and legs can be readily unfolded and expanded.

The letters A B designate the divisions of the frame of the bier, which are only two in number in this example. The divisions A B are counterparts of each other, and consist of frames composed of side pieces 0 O, united to each other at the outer end by a transverse bar, D, so as to form a frame having one end open. The open ends of the frames or divisions AB are turned toward each other, and are united by hinge-plates E E, to which the inner end of the side pieces 0 of each division are pivoted at F, the under corners of the side pieces 0 at the said ends being rounded oh, so that, in folding and unfolding, the ends can turn against each other, and yet allow the square parts of the ends to abut against each other when the bier is extended.

The letter G designates a transverse bar, which forms the central cross-bar of the bier, and which closes the inner ends of the divisions A B. The bar Gr extends across between the hinge-plates E, said plates being rig idly secured to the ends of the bar before the ends of the hinge-plates are pivoted to the side pieces 0, the arrangement being such that the center of the bar at each of its ends coincides with the joint formed between the side pieces. 0 of each division; or, in other words, the ends of the side pieces overlapthe ends of the bar G an equal distance. The bar G is provided with legs G, which, when the apparatus is unfolded, rest on the floor and support the central part. Each division A B has, near its outer end, a leg-frame, H, whose cross-bar I is pivoted between the side pieces at the joints J, so that the leg-frames can be folded within their respective division A B, and wheh so folded the legs of the frame H H enfold the middle legs G, as shown in Fig. 2, the latter being set closer together than the others for that purpose. When the apparatus is extendedthe middle legs G are kept from moving either to the right or left, because the cross-bar G, to which they are connected, is rigidly fastened to the hinge-plates E.

The leg-frames H are locked, when the apparatus is extended, by means of spring-armsK K, which are bent at right angles at each end, one end, a. going through the legs of the legframe H, where its extremity is secured to the leg by a washer or rivet-plate, L, and the other end, b, entering a groove in the inside of the side pieces 0, in which it slides when the leg-frames are unfolded or folded, the said ends 12 slipping into locking-holes d at the outer ends of the grooves when the leg-frames H are fully unfolded. When it is desired to fold up the bier, the ends b ofthe arms K are sprung out of the holes 01, so as to allow them to slide along in the groove, when the leg-frames H are swung inward in the operation of folding them up. When the apparatusis folded, as shown in. Fig. 2, the spring-arms are prevented, by the legs of the leg-frame H, from leaving the grooves.

When the apparatus is extended it forms a bier, the coffin or casket, or the inclosing-box, resting on the cross-bars.

I use the apparatus also as a laying-out table, by combining with it a perforated platform, M, which is seen in place thereon in Fig. 1, the perforated platform being arranged and adapted to lie loosely thereon, ready to be removed when the apparatus is required for use as a bier. With the platform M may also be combined a hinged head-board, partly for increasing the length of the device, and partly for adjusting the body in aconvenient position.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The slotted or grooved hinged sections A B, each provided at or near its ends with a pivoted cross-bar carrying supporting-legs, in combination with the locking-arms K, the central transverse bar G, and its supportinglegs, the open ends of said sections A B being hinged to the central bar to form a folding bier, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 14th day of June, 1876.

WASHINGTON WHITE. [L. 8.]

Witnesses:

W. HAUFF, E. F. KASTENHUBER. 

